Noted TV producer Herbert F. Solow has passed away. He was the producer who convinced NBC that buying Star Trek was a prudent investment (for which we all say, “thank you, Mr. Solow”.) NBC executive Jerry Stanley claimed, “It was Herb’s tenacity and Herb’s presentation that sold the series.” In 1964 he became Desilu’s Vice President of Production. As such, he was responsible for bringing Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix to the screen.

He eventually became production manager of Star Trek, working with Gene Roddenberry and Robert Justman in the day to day production of the show. After moving to MGM, he became vice president in charge of TV production, where he was responsible for such popular shows as The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, Medical Center, and Then Came Bronson. In the ’70s, following his interests in science fiction and fantasy, he was executive producer and co-creator of The Man from Atlantis, and was executive in charge of production for The Girl from U,N.C.L.E.

Variety reported that Solow died November 19, 2020, roughly a month before his 90th birthday. He was born December 13, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York.

He and his wife, Yvonne Harrison Fern Solow lived in Wales from 2005 to 2009 before returning to southern California. She writes and teaches under the name Dr. Harrison Solow. She was Writer-in-Residence at the University of Wales, Lampeter. They co-wrote Star Trek: The Original Series – Sketchbook.

Herb Solow was a producer of Star Trek: the Original Series and co-creator of The Man from Atlantis; he lived a long full life; he followed the Vulcan adage ‘Live Long and Prosper.’ To his widow, we say “We grieve with thee.” May his memory be a blessing.

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